I preordered CivIV and haven't played a full game yet.

[Willem]

Originally posted by D4everman
I'll have to give it a go, but I'm unsure of the starting strategy. In Civ III I used to try and expand like crazy. It was important to me to grab as much terrain as I could so I could secure resources. Is that as important in this version of the game?

I've heard that large civilizations aren't a sure thing in this game.

Every city costs you a certain amount in maintenance costs and these costs go up with the distance from your capital and the number of cities in total. With that last one, having more cities makes the maintenance cost of all your cities go up, not just the new ones you add. So if you expand too quickly at the first of the game, you might find yourself with not enough money to put into research or military. You need to find the right balance according to your circumstance.

[Willem]

Originally posted by D4everman
Civ IV seems different in this. I understand that AI civs need permission to cross your border unless they're going to war. (stop me if I'm wrong in this).

There's a diplomatic option called Open Borders you can agree to with another civ. This will allow units from both sides to freely pass through each other's territory, and it also stimulates trade. Without that agreement, no units can cross the border.

I'm sure some AI's are more agressive than others.

As mentioned, watch your back when Montezuma's around. It's pretty much a guarentee that he'll try to backstab you. And Napolean can be a thorn in your side as well. Tokugawa and Alexander like to battle it out as well, though they tend to be a bit more honourable about it. They generally need a reason, not just a whim. Once they start though they don't like to give up, especially Tokugawa.

However, if you let your military get too weak, almost anyone will pounce on you. So keep an eye on your Power graph and demographics, they're actually useful in this game.

[Adagio]

Originally posted by Willem
As mentioned, watch your back when Montezuma's around. It's pretty much a guarentee that he'll try to backstab you.

He sure likes war. In my current game he first started a war against Mongolia, a few turns into this war, he demanded that I'd give him lots of gold, I refused. Then two turns later he asked me to attack Mali. Then he made peace with Mongolia, so he a few turns later could attack Germany, then asking me if I would join him (which I refused), then two turns later he demanded gold again (which I again refused). And then he asked me to attack Mali again... and I guess that he soon will attack Mongolia again... if the target is not me (because I kept refusing to give into his demands)

[Willem]

Originally posted by Adagio
He sure likes war.

I've had a few games with him as a neighbour that I just restarted since I didn't feel like gearing up for a military style game right from the start. I prefer building in the early game, only getting into wars around the Middle Ages. With Monty around that's not always possible, you have to expect the worst from him.

[Tokyo Sexwale]

Yeah Monty is the worst of the bunch. In my current game he attacked me (I was expecting it) and we spent the next 500 years in a prolonged war until I had wiped him out. I had 5 cities and he had 10 at the start, now I own all his cities. Monty is the most satisfying to crush. If he's next to me I don't go for a build phase until I've wiped him out.

Problem is now my other neighbours are Khan, Caesar and Cathy. Not good. Khan just declared war on me and I'm ill-prepared.

You really have to watch out for ALL the AI's. For me, Monty's the worst, followed by Togu, Cathy and Khan. Saladin and Hashephutuputpe (erm... sp?) are strong players, although less agrro. And trust me, watch out for pacifists like Ghandi, when you least expect it they will betray you and ruin your game. They're all sneaky b@stards! (Keeps you on your toes, I never know whom to really trust and it makes the game most insteresting.)

[Willem]

You also have to watch out for Isabella if you don't have the same religion as her. She's rather fanatical that way.

[Adagio]

Originally posted by Willem
You also have to watch out for Isabella if you don't have the same religion as her. She's rather fanatical that way.

But once you shift to her religion, she forgets all about the many wars we have been in

And the same did the Romans in that game

[Crossfire]

I have played a couple of games with Monte as my neighbor and never went to war with him. Export your religion to him, give him stuff whenever he asks (he is always in last place anyway) and go to war for him whenever he asks. He will be your best buddy. The same strategy works for Isabella. Of course, it IS more fun to hate Monty and kill him off fast.

[Willem]

Originally posted by Adagio


But once you shift to her religion, she forgets all about the many wars we have been in

Which I will never do since I always found my own religion. So anytime we're neighbours, we always end up on chilly terms.

[Urban Ranger]

Don't forget to play through the tutorial once, preferably as your first game.

[MikeH]

I always play with random AI players and I've never had a game without Monty. You'd think by sheer luck one time he wouldn't be there but he's a persistent thorn. If I see him I gear up to crush him as early as possible.

[Urban Ranger]

Sometimes you get lucky and he's on his own isolated little rock.

[D4everman]

I always chuckle at how there are some AI's that you KNOW will attack you with little or no reason. In Civ II it was the Carthaginians (at least for me....in Civ II everyone would hate you anyway, but the Carthies were worse than the mongols on my games.) In Civ III it was the persians. So far in Civ IV I just don't trust any of them because I haven't had to interact with them enough. Is it a mistake to open my borders? all of the civs seem to want me to do that. (I say no all of the time because I have nightmares of the CivIII AI's sending wave after wave of settlers through my territory.)

[Tokyo Sexwale]

Ah, now.... generally I open my borders, because if the AI declares war, their troops will get booted out of your territory and have to start at your border anyway. Bit unrealistic, but NEway. (Which means they generally declare war as they get there, not when Mr Deathstack is next to your puniest city.)

BUT becuase the AI tends to expand faster than you, not opening your borders can be a good way to block them from colonising the land "behind" you, or getting first to a great city-site with 2 Golds, a corn and a horse.

But you need the Open Borders to increase your diplomacy, explore and spread your religion. And to march your troops through Ghandiland to crush Monty if he's not next to you.

(Whoohooo finanlly made chieftan on this board!)

[D4everman]

So do you think its a good plan to open borders? The stigma of the AI's goons running through my territory and NOT LEAVING when asked (even when they agreed to leave) from Civ III is still great for me.